Are you teaching Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus this Christmas? This song pick is a great one to teach because it describes the prophesies of Christ’s birth!
Introduce or review this Primary Christmas song (list of 100+ songs here!) with this Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Hand Actions activity! Use these hand actions to help your primary children remember the lyrics as they learn this song!
*All Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Singing Time Ideas here*
Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Hand Actions
Start by choosing simple actions to represent keywords in the song. I’ve created a pattern with keyword actions for the first verse and chorus! Each keyword or phrase is represented by a simple shape or picture!
Before introducing the song, post the hand actions pattern and cover up the title. Can you guess which Christmas song we’ll be learning in primary? This one is a tough one to guess from just the visuals, so you might have a special prize ready if someone guesses it!
Have the pianist play through the song while the children look at the hand actions. You could also play a recorded version of the song while the kids listen. This Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus sing along video is a great one to listen to or watch!
Let’s try it together! If this song is brand new to your primary children, say or sing the first line while demonstrating the hand actions. Have the kids repeat after you! You could also post the first page of our flipchart to provide another visual!
Continue introducing each line of the song with a simple hand action. Pause once you get to the end of the verse. Let’s try just the first verse together! Slowly sing the verse while incorporating the actions.
Then, begin teaching the chorus with the hand actions! You can also start with the chorus and teach the verse second. Totally up to you! Then, once you’re a bit more comfortable with the chorus, try the entire pattern while singing through the song!
Hand Actions:
- Cup mouth – “Said” – this action is represented in the printable by a megaphone
- 5 fingers – “5 years” – represented in the printable by a hand
- Twinkle fingers like stars, then big circle sun – “night will be as day” – represented in the printable by stars and a sun shape
- Rock a baby -“Baby Jesus” – represented by an image of a mother holding a baby
- sweep arm from left to right – “far, far away” – represented in the printable by a sweeping arrow
- Clap-Pat-Pat
Clap-Pat-Pat-Pat – “Hosanna, Hosanna” – clap hands, then pat knees - Pretend to conduct – “let us gladly sing” – represented by an image of a conductor
- Place hand over heart – “Blessed” – represented by a heart shape
- Rock a baby – “Lord was born” – represented by an image of a mother holding a baby
- Fingers on head like a crown – “king” – represented by an image of a crown
Extension Activities:
- Silent actions! Each time you do a hand action, hum or stay quiet! For another fun challenge, try following along with the accompaniment and only doing the actions! No singing!
- Cut out the action symbols and post them on the board. While reviewing, have children come to the board and write the word or phrase that corresponds with each action! See how many you can guess correctly!
- After teaching the entire pattern, assign 1-2 classes to sing and do the actions for the verse. Then, have the other classes sing and do the actions for the chorus! Then, swap patterns!
- Come up with your own actions for the second verse! Have the kids help you create hand actions for the second verse. Use the same pattern for the chorus!
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this Tell Me Dear Lord Hand Actions singing time activity!
Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Hand Actions Demo Video
Need some extra practice before primary? Watch this short demo video to see how I use these hand actions to introduce this song! In this video, I demonstrate the entire hand actions pattern for the first verse and chorus and provide some extra tips for using this activity in primary!
–> Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Hand Actions Demo Video <–
Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Hand Actions Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a two-page printable pattern sheet with visuals to represent each hand action!
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including the 2nd verse and a larger pattern poster, plus black and white printables. You’ll find these bonus files included when Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus is the featured song of the month.
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Head over to this Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Ribbon Wands activity next!
What other fun ways will you use this singing time activity in your Primary room?
